We are in the third day of training sessions for Nollywood UP, the capacity building program designed by Nollywood Workshops and CONGA President Bond Emeruwa, and backed by the Lagos State Government. Today, Nigerian film professionals will be holding seminars on acting, screenwriting, directing, production design, cinematography, and the business of film production. Later today, the screenwriters will be pitching their projects to the business of film professionals. The cinematographers have been shooting footage throughout the week, and I am very excited to see what they have put together. All in all, the workshops are getting Nollywood professionals to talk to one another about how they can experiment, take creative risks, and explore novelty in the industry. Lagos State Government has been represented at the event by Moji Rhodes, Governor Fashola’s deputy chief of staff.

I want to emphasize the efforts the organizers have made to frame their project such that it consciously avoids creating a hierarchy between American and Nigerian filmmaking. On day one, I was very happy to see Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, the head of the African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA), teaching the business of film seminar about low-capital strategies to keep one step ahead of piracy. On the second day, veteran filmmaker Tunde Kelani took to the classroom to teach students production management techniques that were, in my opinion, extremely practical specifically for Nigerian filmmakers. The challenges that Nigeria’s environment throws in one’s way are unlike those challenges faced by the American trainers, so it has been a real strength of Nollywood UP that figures like Tunde Kelani, Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, and Kunle Afolayan have agreed to supplement the curriculum with their own knowledge and expertise.

On March 26-27th, I was fortunate to be invited to the 7th annual African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) hosted in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The event is promoted by AMAA CEO Peace Anyiam-Osigwe as the “first and only award system for African cinema“. According to Chairman of the AMAA Selection Committee Shaibu Husseini, 320 films (consisting of 180 features and 140 shorts) were submitted all over the world for consideration in 25 categories. These submissions were narrowed down to the 30 nominated works, which Shaibu felt were “truly representative of African cinema in 2010“.

Along with Hausa cultural advocate Carmen McCain, I was part of the 500 guests that were flown in from three different continents for the ceremony, which included 154 nominees and 45 members of the press. As the event’s major sponsor, the Bayelsa State Government hosted many of the pre-ceremony activities–including the press briefing and meals for invited guests–at the Bayelsa State Tourism Development & Publicity Bureau.

[Update April 3] To read Carmen McCain‘s detailed account of the awards in her Weekly Trust column, please click here.

At the March 27 ceremony at Gloryland Cultural Centre, the Congolese gangster movie, Viva Riva!, swept the awards by winning 6 statuettes, including Best Film, Best Actress In Supporting Role (Marlene Longage), Best Actor In Supporting Role (Hoji Fortuna), Best Cinematography, Best Production Design, and Best Director (Djo Tunda Wa Munga). The Nigerian productions that received awards were Aramotu (Best Costume Design and Best Nigerian Film), Inale (Best Soundtrack), and Mirror Boy (Best Young Actor). Click here for the complete list of nominees and winners.

After the six-hour long ceremony culminated at 2AM, Bayelsa State Governor Chief Timipre Sylva and his wife, Mrs. Alanyingi Sylva, hosted invited guests at an opulent after-party at the Governor’s Mansion.